BRUNSWICK, Maine — J.B. Wells understands the dynamics of being a student-athlete at a New England Division III institution. That should help make the Trinity College graduate a good fit at Bowdoin College, where he has been hired as the school’s 29th head football coach. Wells, a 1991 Trinity graduate, arrives at Bowdoin after a successful, 12-year stint at Endicott College in Boston, where he guided the Gulls to a 75-48 overall record (.640). He replaces Dave Caputi, who stepped down last fall after 15 seasons directing the Polar Bears. “JB has demonstrated an unquestionable commitment to supporting the academic, community and athletic interests of members of his program at Endicott, and we are excited for the future of our football program under his leadership,” Tim Ryan, Bowdoin’s Ashmead White Director of Athletics, said in a press release...

JB Wells excited about challenge of coaching Bowdoin footballHe takes over a program that won just six games the past three seasons.

JB Wells and his college buddies are about to take their own version of the Polar Bear plunge.

The new football coach at Bowdoin College said after Thursday’s annual National Football Foundation kickoff luncheon in Portland that he’s already lining up support from some fellow Trinity College alumni.

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College Athletic Department has announced the hiring of Shem Bloom and Tom Blumenauer as assistant coaches for the Polar Bear football team.

Most recently assistant coaches under JB Wells at Endicott College, Bloom will serve as defensive coordinator for Bowdoin while Blumenauer has been named offensive coordinator.

Bloom, a former standout defensive lineman at Wesleyan where he was a two-year captain and two-time All-NESCAC selection, helped lead the Gulls defense that ranked third in the New England Football Conference in yards allowed in 2014. Under Bloom, Endicott was particulary tough against the pass, allowing just 166.6 yards per game through the air with 22 sacks in 10 games. Prior to joining Endicott, Bloom served as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator for Middlebury for two seasons, acting as part of a staff that accumulated the program's best two-year record (14-2) in over 40 years. Middlebury's defense ranked 26th in the country in points allowed per game (16.3) in 2013 while the 2012 team went 7-1 and ranked 21st among NCAA Division III schools with just 158.2 yards allowed per game. Prior to his time at Middlebury and directly following his graduation from Wesleyan in 2006, Bloom spent four season as an assistant coach for his alma mater as he worked with the linebackers, coordinating the team's video editing efforts and designed strength and conditioning programs.

Blumenauer led an Endicott offense that averaged 26.9 points and over 400 yards per game in 2014. The Gulls were the top passing team in the NEFC last fall, averaging 320.5 yards through the air with 29 touchdowns. Prior to joining Endicott, Blumenauer was the quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at St. Lawrence University from 2010-2013, helping the Saints to their best season in 30 years in 2013 with a 7-3 record. A former outside linebacker and free safety at Ithaca from 2004-06, Blumenauer earned Empire 8 All-Star recognition in 2005 and 2006 as well as the All-East Region Team in 2006.

As part of the restructuring of the football staff, Ryan Sullivan will assume full-time head coaching duties of the Bowdoin softball program and will oversee Intramural Athletics at Bowdoin. John Burrell will not return as an assistant coach for the Polar Bears.

Bowdoin will open its 2015 campaign on September 26 at Whittier Field against Williams College.

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Williams College football team controlled the ball for over 38 minutes of game time on its way to a season-opening 27-7 win over Bowdoin at Whittier Field on Saturday.

The Ephs amassed 438 yards of total offense to improve to 1-0 on the season while the Polar Bears fall in the debut of head coach J.B. Wells and drop to 0-1.

How It Happened

The Ephs took the opening kickoff and marched 76 yards in 11 plays, scoring on an 10-yard rush by tailback Connor Harris, who cut up the middle for the game's first score.Williams carried a 7-0 lead into the second quarter when they capped another long drive - 93 yards on 11 plays - with a 21-yard pass from Austin Lommen to Adam Regensburg in the left corner of the endzone to make it 14-0.Bowdoin cut short a Williams bid to add to the lead before halftime, stopping the Ephs on a fourth down at the Bowdoin 29 with under two minutes to go. The Polar Bears drove to the Williams 37 with time expiring in the first half, but a Tim Drakeley pass was intercepted at the Williams 14 with 26 ticks left in the period.Williams forced a Bowdoin three-and-out to open the third quarter and marched 77 yards in eight plays, scoring on a 18-yard screen pass from Lommen to Gary Plumb.The Polar Bears got on the scoreboard with 2:24 remaining following a 10-play, 89-yard drive. Drakeley found Nick Vailas over the middle for a 21-yard strike and Bowdoin's first touchdown of the season.Bowdoin tried an unsuccessful onside kick and Williams added a late TD on a 34-yard touchdown run by Noah Sorrento to close out the scoringBy The NumbersWilliams totaled 438 yards of offense for the day, including 288 yards from Lommen, who went 20-30 with two touchdowns.Regensburg caught a team-high five passes for 79 yards for Williams while Harris had 72 yards rushing on 20 carries.Bowdoin's Drakeley went 21-39 for 248 yards and his first career touchdown.Vailas had a career-high 93 yards receiving on seven catches and his first career touchdown catch while Tyler Grant had a team-best 64 yards rushing. Williams finished with 38:12 time of possession to 21:48 for BowdoinThe Ephs went 9-15 on third down, including converting their first five in the opening half on their way to two scores.Up NextWilliams will travel to Trinity next weekend for a 1:30 p.m. start.Bowdoin will take to the road at Amherst next Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. kick-off.

AMHERST, Mass. - The Amherst College football team scored 24 points in the first quarter on its way to a 37-6 win over Bowdoin on Saturday at Pratt Field.

The victory improves the defending NESCAC champions to 2-0 and is their 13th consecutive victory dating back to the 2013 season. Bowdoin falls to 0-2 on the year with the setback.

How It Happened

The Jeffs jumped on the Polar Bears early, getting an eight-yard run from Kenny Adinkra and a 24-yard field goal from Charlie Wall to build a 10-0 edge midway through the opening period.Bowdoin seemed to survive the early Amherst pressure, and pinned the Jeffs deep in their own territory following a 45-yard punt by Andrew Murowchick.Amherst quarterback Reece Foy broke through the Bowdoin defense, however, and scampered 90 yards for a touchdown to give the hosts a 17-0 lead.The Jeffs added one more score on an 18-yard pass from Foy to Adam Wallace before the end of the quarterWall added two more field goals in the second quarter to push the lead to 30-0 before Bowdoin mounted their best drive of the day.The Polar Bears covered 72 yards in 11 plays as quarterback Tim Drakeley found Bryan Porter three times on the drive, including a five-yard scoring pass with 1:06 to go before halftimeAmherst scored the lone touchdown of the second half as Jack Hickey capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with a five yard run.By The Numbers

For the second straight week, the Amherst rushing attack was outstanding, accumulating 368 yards on the ground to just 36 for BowdoinFoy went 16-28 for 202 yards passing for AmherstHickey led the Jeffs with 111 yards on the groundDrakeley went 26-39 for 165 yards passing for BowdoinPorter led the Bowdoin receivers with five catches for 38 yards and a score - his first career touchdown receptionDaniel Barone and Nick Vailas had six catches eachBranden Morin led all players with 14 tacklesCameron Rondeau had a pair of pass break-ups for BowdoinUp Next

The Polar Bears will look to break into the win column next weekend at Tufts (2-0). Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.Up Next

The Polar Bears will look to break into the win column next weekend at Tufts. Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Bowdoin College football team earned its first win of the season and first victory of head coach JB Wells' tenure in a 30-20 triumph over Hamilton on Saturday.

Led by first-years Noah Nelson (328 yards passing, 4 touchdowns) and tailback Andrew Tichy (106 yards rushing) the Polar Bears improved to 1-3 on the season. Hamilton remained winless at 0-4 on the year.

How It Happened

Bowdoin controlled the first half, holding the ball for over 17 minutes and out-gaining Hamilton 236-97 in total offenseThe Polar Bears got on the board first thanks to a 32-yard field goal from Andrew Sisti at 7:23 of the opening frameBowdoin then capped an eight-play, 65-yard drive with a three-yard touchdown pass from Nelson to Ken Skon early in the second quarterThe Polar Bears added to their lead late in the half with a five-play, 50-yard drive as Nelson found Griffin for a two-yard touchdown, giving the hosts a 15-0 lead at the breakHamilton came out hot in the second half, scoring twice in the third quarter to draw within two pointsThe Continentals scored on the longest play of the day, a 45-yard pass from Cole Freeman to Charles Ensley with 10:05 remaining in the thirdLater in the period, Hamilton marched 80 yards in seven plays, scoring on a three-yard plunge from Jason Nastovski to trim the Polar Bear lead to 15-13 entering the fourth quarterAfter the teams traded three-and-outs, Bowdoin regained control of the game quickly in the fourth quarter as the Polar Bears covered 42 yards in two playsNelson found Daniel Barone for a 32-yard pass to the Hamilton 10 and connected with Nick Vailas for a score on the very next play to make it 22-13After another Hamilton three-and-out, the Polar Bears put the contest out of reach with a six-play, 71-yard drive as Nelson found Bryan Porter from 11 yards out to increase the Bowdoin lead to 30-13 with 10:25 to go.Freeman led Hamilton on a late scoring drive, covering 88 yards in 12 plays and finishing with a touchdown pass to Nick Caso with 47 seconds remainingBy The Numbers

Bowdoin racked up 439 yards of total offense on the day, averaging nearly six yards per play on the afternoonIn his first career start, Nelson was outstanding, throwing for a Bowdoin first-year record 328 yards and four touchdowns on 28-43 passing Tichy rushed 28 times for 106 yards on the afternoonIt marked the first time in Bowdoin history that a first-year quarterback passed for over 300 yards and a first-year tailback rushed for over 100 yards in the same gameDaniel Barone caught six passes for 91 yards while Stephen Griffin caught six balls for 58 yardsCole Freeman came in for Hamilton at quarterback and threw for 262 yards on 19-39 attemptsHis top target was Ensley, who caught eight balls for 139 yards and a scoreLaShawn Ware carried the ball 16 times for Hamilton, accumulating 77 yards on the groundBowdoin's defense totaled six sacks on the afternoon including two apiece from Latif Armiyaw and Phillippe ArchambaultBranden Morin collected a game-high nine tackles for BowdoinHamilton's Cade Larabee racked up a game-high 16 tacklesConor Powers had four solo stops and stripped a fumble away from Bowdoin in the second quarterUp Next

Bowdoin will return to action with a contest at Trinity next Saturday. Kick-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.Hamilton will host Colby for a noon start next Saturday

Former Falmouth QB makes quick impression at BowdoinNoah Nelson became the first Polar Bear freshman to throw for 300 yards in a game.

The play called for a rollout and a throw back to the running back. Soon after Bowdoin College freshman quarterback Noah Nelson took the snap, he was pressured by the Hamilton defense. What happened next reaffirmed Coach JB Wells’ belief that Nelson wasn’t in over his head in his first game as a starter.

“Noah calmly pivoted and lofted a throw-back pass over the defense to our running back for a 30-yard gain,” said Wells, in his first season as the Polar Bears’ head coach.

HARTFORD, Conn. - The Trinity College football team used a suffocating defensive effort and three rushing touchdowns from Max Chipouras to earn a 28-7 win over Bowdoin on Saturday.

The first-place Bantams improve to 5-0 this season while the Polar Bears fall to 1-4.

How It Happened

The teams played scoreless for the opening quarter, but it was Bowdoin with the best chance to score in the early goingA fumbled punt return by Trinity's Darrien Myers set the Polar Bears up at the Trinity 36 late in the first quarterBowdoin was able to drive to the Trinity 21, but stalled and missed a 38-yard field goal that would have given them the leadThe Bantams answered right away, covering 80 yards in six plays as Chipouras rushed for a 24-yard touchdown with 11:40 remaining in the first halfAfter intercepting a Noah Nelson pass on the next Bowdoin possession, Trinity scored again when Chipouras capped an eight-play, 50-yard drive with a six-yard run to make it 14-0 at the breakChipouras added a 28-yard touchdown rush in the third quarterNick Gaynor capped the Trinity scoring with a four-yard run on Trinity's next possession to make it 28-0Bowdoin mounted its lone scoring rally of the day late in the fourth quarter, covering 66 yards in six playsNelson found Bryan Porter for a 37-yard scoring strike with 48 seconds left to close out the scoringBy The Numbers

Trinity racked up 432 yards of total offense, including 239 yards rushing while holding Bowdoin to just 220 yards of total offenseThe Bantams held a 33:14-26:46 advantage in time of possessionChipouras carried the load for Trinity, rushing for 155 yards on 18 carrriesBowdoin's Noah Nelson went 14-37 for 152 yardsAndrew Tichy had 44 yards on the ground while Tyler Grant added 25 in his return from injuryNick Vailas caught five passes to lead the Polar BearsDefensively, Branden Morin made 12 tackles while Philippe Archambault had seven stops, including 2.5 for a lossUp Next

Bowdoin will return to Whittier Field next Saturday to battle Wesleyan (2-3) at 12:30 p.m.

BRUNSWICK, Maine - The Wesleyan University football team racked up 429 yards of offense and Zac Cuzner had three interceptions to lead the Cardinals in a 20-14 win at Bowdoin on Saturday at Whittier Field.

Wesleyan improves to 4-2 this season while Bowdoin drops to 1-5 overall.

How It Happened

The Cardinals built a ten-point lead in the opening half thanks to an eight-play, 81-yard drive in the first quarter that resulted in a Lou Stevens three-yard touchdown run. The big play of the drive came on a 32-yard pass from Gernald Hawkins to Eric MeyrelesWesleyan added a 28-yard field goal from Ike Fuchs to cap an eight-play, 52-yard drive in the second quarter to take a 10-0 leadThe Cardinals had a chance to add to their lead late in the period after stopping Bowdoin on a fourth down at midfield, but the Polar Bear defense responded with a fourth-down stand and took over at their own 33Bowdoin then covered 67 yards in just 1:06 before the break, getting a 24-yard pass from Noah Nelson to Seamus Power down to the Wesleyan 13. Nelson found Bryan Porter in the back corner of the end zone on the next play to trim the lead to 10-7 at the breakWesleyan scored on its first possession of the third quarter, marching 75 yards in seven plays to make it 17-7 on a 15-yard rumble from Stevens through the middle of the Polar Bear defenseBowdoin responded again, as Raj Nagarajah forced a Wesleyan fumble on a punt return and Reeder Wells recovered at the Cardinal 33. Nelson found Porter for a 24-yard pass down to the Wesleyan one and then scrambled into the endzone himself on the next play to trim the lead to 17-14Wesleyan added a Fuchs field goal with 5:26 remaining in the fourth quarter to make it 20-14Bowdoin had two late chances to take the lead, but Cuzner intercepted Nelson twice in the final 4:40 - once at the Wesleyan 32 and then, after a Cardinal punt, at the Bowdoin 30 to seal the winBy The Numbers

Wesleyan totaled 429 yards of offense, including 187 rushingJaylen Berry was the Cardinals' top rusher with 96 yards on the groundMark Piccirillo threw for 164 yards and rushed for 35 more for WesleyanEric Meyreles caught a game-high ten passes for 126 yards for the CardinalsAndrew Tichy carried the ball 21 times for 75 yards to pace the Bowdoin offenseNelson finished 16-36 but was sacked five times on the dayBryan Porter was the top target, catching six passes for 72 yards and a scoreDefensively, Wesleyan was led by Justin Sanchez's nine tackles while Jude Lindberg had two sacksPhilippe Archambault had 14 tackles for Bowdoin while Henry Little had a dozen stops for BowdoinUp Next

Bowdoin opens CBB play next week at Bates for a 12:30 kick-off. Bates defeated Colby 10-9 on Saturday and will have an opportunity to claim the CBB title on their home turf next weekThe Cardinals will play Little Three rival Williams at home next Saturday at 1:00 p.m.